How Safe Is Prague for Travel?

Czech Republic : Safety by City

Prague is a perfect city for sightseeing, enjoying traditional delicious food in its restaurants, and experience great nightlife. It is largest city of the Czech Republic famous for its unique medieval architecture.

Most of the Prague’s District 1 is a UNESCO Heritage site. All most popular tourist destinations such as Prague Castle, Old Town Square, Jewish Quarter, Charles Bridge are located there.

If you have a chance to visit it, do to allow anything to spoil such a wonderful journey to this medieval city.

Warnings & Dangers in Prague

OVERALL RISK : LOW

The location score shows that Prague is a very safe city, and most visitors to the Czech Republic experience no difficulties. Pickpocketing is an issue in Prague, and not only for tourists. The usual precautions like keeping an eye on your wallet and securing your bags are necessary.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK : MEDIUM

When it comes to a public transport, metro lines, numerous bus and tram lines might be places where pickpockets operate. Try to avoid getting taxi on the street and if you have to, determine the price in advance. If you take taxi on the street, you should know that maximum price designated by city council per kilometer is 1€.

PICKPOCKETS RISK : MEDIUM

When coming to Prague, you should take care of yourself and your belongings in the same way as you would do in any other tourist destination, since a large number of tourists attract pickpockets. You can always use a money belt or an under-your-clothes neck pouch as precautions against pickpockets and bag snatchers and make sure not to leave your belongings unattended.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK : LOW

Prague can be at risk of flooding during the spring, but this might not become dangerous since the Czech Republic has one of the best flood and other threat warning systems in Europe. Any other natural disasters are not common, since The Czech Republic is located in a zone where earthquakes are unknown.

MUGGING RISK : LOW

One positive thing about Prague is that it is a completely safe city when it comes to mugging and kidnapping risks. There is almost no possibility of becoming a prey of a serious crime.

TERRORISM RISK : LOW

The terrorist threats in Prague have not been reported in the recent history of the Czech Republic, but still you should be aware of the global risk of terrorist attacks. Public places and gatherings are places where the heightened threat of terrorist attack exists, so be vigilant and follow the advice of authorities.

SCAMS RISK : MEDIUM

The most frequent scam is in relation to money exchange on the street, where you might be given a better rate, but you will be fooled, since the money you will get would be old Czech Crowns which are no longer acceptable. There are criminals which use electronic “skimming” to steal credit card credentials and pin code at some ATM’s and bogus plain-clothes policemen, who may ask to see your foreign currency and passport. You should know that police officer has no right to check your money or its authenticity and if it happens ask from him to go to the nearest police station.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK : LOW

Taking into account the fact that Prague is very safe for women travelers, it is the perfect destination for a first solo trip. Women do not have to worry about being harassed when walking around. Another advantage is that it is easy to navigate so you would not get lost and end up in the “wrong part of town.”

So... How Safe Is Prague Really?

Prague is a generally safe city, but the prevalence of car theft and vandalism pushes up the crime statistics of Prague. Due to the low risk of violent crime, the threat of pickpockets is a great issue. Begging is also a serious problem in this city and you can even see beggars in this city’s top tourist attractions.

However, in order to make your journey as smooth and relaxed as possible, use common sense and basic precautions which will keep you safe from pickpockets. Be careful with taxi drivers, and around money exchanges. Exchange your money in banks and never on the street since the best way to stop the gangs is to simply avoid anybody on the street who offers to change money.

Useful Information

Visas - Tourists that plan to stay less than 90 days can visit Prague without having a visa. If you intend to stay longer or settle permanently in the Czech Republic you need to register with Czech Foreign Police. Your passport should be valid during your stay. For any further information, you can contact the Embassy of the Czech Republic.

Currency - The official currency of the Czech Republic is the Czech Crown (koruna). ATMs are found everywhere, but some of them in the city will charge a commission. It is advisable to use the ones owned by major banks because they do not charge commission and give you the standard exchange rate. Never change money on the street since the organized gangs operate in central Prague near exchange offices and target unsuspecting tourists. You should also take care when using cash machines and watch your surroundings. Sometimes it is also possible to pay with Euros and change is almost always given only in Crowns.

Weather - Prague has a temperate climate and the winter in Prague has definitely its own magic when the snow may cover the surface. Spring season is one of the best times to come for a visit. Travelers usually decide to travel so it is the peak season.

Airports - Some of the airports that might be used when coming to the Czech Republic are in Prague, Brno, Ostrava and Karlovy Vary. Václav Havel Airport Prague is located 20 km from the city center, and it takes about 30 min to reach the city center by car.

Travel Insurance - Make sure that you have bought a travel insurance policy before coming to Prague, since the issues can never be predicted, and it is always better to be safe than sorry.